How ‘Brain Rot’ (Oxford’s Word of the Year) Is Wrecking Your Productivity

Brain rot, Oxford’s Word of the Year, highlights how our screen-dominated lives fuel mental fatigue.

It’s that foggy, scattered feeling after endless TikTok binges, notifications, or late-night scrolling—leaving us drained, unfocused, and creatively stuck.

Overuse of digital devices rewires our brains, shortening attention spans and making deep work a struggle.

Symptoms include restlessness, compulsive scrolling, eye strain, and poor sleep.

Fighting back means setting boundaries. Start with digital decluttering—remove distractions and mute non-essential alerts.

Offline activities like journaling or exercise help reset mental clarity.

Tools like Freedom can block distractions, and gamifying tasks can make productivity fun.

Even 15-minute deep work sessions can help rebuild focus.

Your brain deserves better—small changes now create lasting improvements in focus and creativity.